The Tiger-Cats came up short in a hard-fought bid for their first win in Montreal since 2002, losing 40-33 to the Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium on Thursday. Richie Williams, starting in place of an injured Casey Printers, threw for 260 yards and ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns but also tossed two interceptions
With dark clouds overhead and rain falling to the turf, Ticats quarterback Richie Williams led the Cats on a short opening drive that ended with a 42-yard Nick Setta field goal which gave Hamilton an early 3-0 lead.
The Alouettes would counter with five points over the next 10 minutes thanks to a 50-yard Damon Duval field goal and a miscue by Ticats longsnapper Tyson Craiggs which resulted in a safety surrendered by the Black and Gold.
The Als would extend their lead in the final minute of the quarter after linebacker Diamond Ferri picked off a tipped Williams pass, which allowed Duval to connect on his second field goal of the game to put the home side ahead 8-3 after one quarter.
Anthony Calvillo and the Alouettes offence would add to their advantage 2:52 into the second frame when the veteran quarterback found familiar target Kerry Watkins in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown pass.
After Montreal linebacker T.J. Hill recorded the Als’ second interception, the Ticats defence forced a turnover of their own as defensive back Sean Manning intercepted a deflected Calvillo toss while the Als were pressing in Cats territory. Unfortunately for the Black and Gold, the offence was unable to walk away without cutting into the Alouettes lead.
The Ticats defence continued their aggressive play on Montreal’s next drive. Linebacker Zeke Moreno drilled Montreal running back Avon Cobourne, jarring the ball from his hands, allowing Ray Mariuz to pounce on the loose ball.
Richie Williams and the Cats offence didn’t waste this opportunity. Williams used his arm and his legs to move the chains deep into Montreal territory where rookie running back Tre Smith would find the end zone from five yards out to make the score 15-10 in favour of the home side. Smith was in the game replacing Jessse Lumsden, who left the game with an injury a couple of plays before the touchdown.
On the Als next possession, the Cats defence would step up once again. Linebacker Markeith Knowlton would force another fumble, this one pried from the grasp of Als receiver Brian Bratton to mark three straight Montreal possessions extinguished by turnovers. Hamilton would add a single point following a missed Setta field goal to cut the Als lead to four.
Neither team would add to their tally in the final minute, sending both squads to their locker rooms with Montreal leading 15-11.
The Alouettes opened the second half with a bang. Calvillo rolled out and hit Jamel Richardson with an 81-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the second half’s first play from scrimmage to double the Als lead, 22-11.
After Damon Duval’s third field goal of the game extended Montreal’s lead to two touchdowns, Ticats rookie receiver Prechae Rodriguez displayed his big play ability once again, hauling in a 46-yard toss from Williams at the Alouettes 29 yard line. A few plays later, Williams would scramble into the end zone on a seven yard run to make the count 25-18 with a little under 10 minutes to go in the third quarter.
Montreal tacked on an additional five points thanks to Duval’s fourth field goal and the Ticats second surrendered safety to end the third quarter with a 30-18 lead.
The Alouettes blew the game wide open four and a half minutes into the fourth quarter when Cobourne finished off a six-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run to put the home side up by 19 points.
Despite facing an uphill battle in a hostile environment, the Black and Gold didn’t fold there. The Ticats posted eight quick points after Williams scored his second touchdown of the game and followed that up with a two-point convert pass to Chris Bauman.
After Duval booted his fifth field goal of the game, the Ticats needed two scores in a little over a minute to tie the game.
The offence was able to get halfway there when offensive lineman Marko Cavka recovered a fumble in the Alouettes end zone; however that left only three seconds left for the Cats to score another, desperation touchdown. Montreal would snuff any hope of a miracle by recovering the Cats on-side kick attempt to end the game with a 40-33 win.
